This is part three of three covering a short talk on the topic of how we should reflect the patience of the Lord. Part one can be found here, and part two here.
When are we most tempted to be impatient, particularly with God? It seems to often be during times of perceived injustice, when we feel as though a blessing we’ve earned is overdue, a punishment someone else deserves is delayed, or when another’s sin, especially an offense against us, seems to be without consequence. The answer to this, I have found and Jen Wilkin indicates as well, is perspective, to take the long view. Our treasure is not of this world, where moths and rust corrupt and thieves break in and steal. But our reward is in heaven; we are foreigners and sojourners, temporary landless wage-earners here on earth, citizens of heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the blessing that we as believers receive and the punishment that the wicked will endure are not to be found on this earth, and we should not expect them to be. Psalm 10 assures us that the Lord will call to account, saying of Him, “But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into Your hands.” We are further reminded in Psalm 37 that the Lord sees that the day of judgment for the wicked is coming! God will see justice done, and in those moments when it seems to be delayed, we need to keep the long view in mind. Paul also highlights the future aspect of our reward in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, in which he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
In the midst of suffering is another time I find it difficult to be patient with God’s timing. But Romans 5 reminds us that suffering produces patience, and the eventual outworking of patience is hope. And in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul says that suffering should not cause us to lose heart, for this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Here again, the answer is perspective.
As we contemplate patience in the midst of sinners, in circumstances not of our choosing, in suffering, I would be remiss to not mention one of the primary reasons we can be patient and wait for God’s timing. We can wait for Him to execute justice, because we know Him to be steadfastly just. We can wait in the midst of suffering because we know Him to be unchangingly faithful, ceaselessly good, unendingly merciful. Our hope as we wait is grounded in the absolute immutability of the entire character of God, and such a hope will never make us ashamed.
This is not a new thing that we are called to do. It is not as though only believers in the 21st century, or even since the time of Christ, are called to patience. We see examples all throughout Scripture of those who were also called to patience as they waited for God to act – Job, Abraham waiting for God to fulfill His promises, Joseph waiting in an Egyptian jail, the Israelites waiting for deliverance from slavery, Jewish exiles in a foreign land longing to return home, all of the Old Testament Hebrews waiting for the prophesied Messiah, Simeon waiting in the temple to see the Promised One. Hebrews 11 reminds us that many of these died while waiting, never receiving the things promised. I wonder, in light of these examples and the myriad of others unmentioned, if it is mere coincidence that in the Psalms the exhortation to “wait on the Lord” is often in close proximity to “be strong and let your heart take courage”.
One of the questions I’ve frequently asked, not only of myself, but also of those I trust to offer wise counsel, is what does it look like to wait on the Lord? I’ve asked this question for close to 5 years now, and I’m not sure I’m any closer to an actual answer. One verse which has been significantly helpful in this period of waiting is Psalm 69:13: “But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.”
And so, through the work of the Holy Spirit, I wait. We wait, putting on patience as God is patient, as His people waited before us, and we look to Christ as they did also in the midst of the waiting.
Thanks for persevering through the delays and length! For further reading, you might consider reading the book this was based on, In His Image, by Jen Wilkin.